BREAKING: Manhunt underway after Limerick prisoner escapes during hospital visit

A MAJOR garda manhunt is underway in Limerick after a prisoner escaped from custody during a hospital visit.

The Sunday World reports that John Moloney, aged 23, from South Claughan Road, Garryowen in the city escaped during an escorted trip to St John’s Hospital on Wednesday afternoon around 3pm. He was being treated for a suspected fracture to his hand.

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It is believed he ran from a prison escort before being picked up and driven from the scene by an accomplice.

Moloney is serving a four-and-a-half-year sentence in Limerick Prison for violent disorder, assault and criminal damage.

A spokesperson for the Irish Prison Service confirmed a prisoner “has escaped from lawful custody while on escort to St Johns Hospital in Limerick”.

“An Garda Síochána were notified immediately and provided with all the relevant information in relation to the prisoner.

“The Irish Prison Service is currently investigating the circumstances of the escape,” said the Irish Prison Service spokesperson.

A garda spokesperson said gardaí were alerted by the Irish Prison Service to an incident where a prisoner escaped from lawful custody at a hospital in Limerick city on Wednesday afternoon, November 12.

"An Garda Síochána continues to liaise with the Irish Prison Service and investigations are ongoing," said the garda spokesperson.

It was reported by Limerick Live last November that Moloney was jailed for four-and-a-half years after a court heard how he had been present during a petrol bomb attack on a property and had damaged cars with a hurley.

The owner of the house targeted in the arson attack was “luckily washing down the garden at the time” or the damage to the home could have been considerable, Limerick Circuit Criminal Court heard.

Prosecuting barrister John O’Sullivan, instructed by State solicitor Padraig Mawe, outlined the evidence with the assistance of Detective Garda Peter Connolly.

Mr O’Sullivan said the first incident occurred at Geraldine Villas, Mulgrave Street, Limerick city around 3.35pm on July 4, 2021.

Moloney pleaded guilty to Section 2 assault, criminal damage, production of a hurley in the course of a dispute and criminal damage of a cell at Henry Street garda station after he was arrested,

Mr O’Sullivan said Moloney told a named individual, “I’m going to eradicate you”.

“He started laughing and hitting a car with a hurley. He caused extensive damage to a red Renault.

"He threatened to ‘kill him and his son’. He was in a frenzy,” said Mr O’Sullivan, who added that Moloney was arrested by gardai after a foot chase.

The owner of the house and car outside it said, in a victim impact statement, that his wife was “consistently on edge and couldn’t sleep” afterwards.

He said they “just want to be left in peace”.

Moloney also pleaded guilty to violent disorder and criminal damage of a vehicle at Singland Park, Garryowen, at around 1pm on September 9, 2023.

“A Volkswagen Passat pulled up outside a house. Four males got out. Two petrol bombs were thrown in over the gate by a Mr X.

"A woman was hosing down the garden at the time. Only for that there could have been considerable damage. Three cars were damaged by the men - windows were broken.

"John Moloney was named as one of the attackers. The four had face coverings but they kept dropping,” said Mr O’Sullivan.

When Moloney was arrested in October 2023, he told gardai he was in St John’s Hospital at the time of the incident.

The victim told gardai she heard shouts of, “Ye will be moving out of Garryowen”.

She said a petrol bomb landed where one of the children had been. She said she genuinely feared for her life and her children’s lives.

Kenneth Kerins BL, who represented Moloney, put it to Det Garda Connolly that his client was not involved with throwing the petrol bombs. Garda Connolly agreed.

Mr Kerins read out letters of apology written by Moloney to the owners of the properties in the two incidents. He said he was sorry for the fear and distress caused, saying, “My behaviour was completely unacceptable”.

Moloney said he will be staying away from them and not engage in crime in the future.

Mr Kerins said it is accepted that they are serious and terrifying incidents.

He asked Judge Sinead McMullan to take into account his client’s young age at the time, remorse, his engagement with gardai, guilty pleas, and that he has become a father for the first time.

“He has seen the errors of his ways. He has been in custody since August. When the cell door closes the consequences of one’s actions come to the fore,” said Mr Kerins.

Judge McMullan jailed Mr Moloney for three years for production of a hurley during the course of a dispute at Geraldine Villas.

Concurrent three year sentences were imposed for the two criminal damage offences. The Section 2 assault was taken into consideration.

Judge McMullan handed down a consecutive three year prison term for the violent disorder at Singland Park. The criminal damage of a vehicle was taken into consideration.

Judge McMullan suspended the final 18 months of the six years jail sentence.

The judge said the petrol bomb incident has “no place in a civilised society”.

The search for Moloney by gardai continues this Thursday.